Sounds like the expansion poster boy job launch curse has struck again. 2.0 WAR was crap but fixed in 2.1 and has been great ever since. 3.0 DRG rotation very punishing for not hitting positional and generally difficult to play but quickly received potency adjustments. 4.0 MNK was shafted for not having enough raid synergy and has been buffed throughout the expansion but the damage was done. 5.0 DRK is a poor-mans WAR.

Honestly when the news popped out before EA from the media tour I was worried for DRK because it just felt like it was lagging in every aspect both defensively and game play wise. I mean only one combo rotation really? I never found anything wrong with DA, outside of having to spam it for everything but conceptually it was very distinct from the other tanks and that was great. The ability to augment a weapon skill was very unique and interesting and now that's gone.

The one thing that still irks me about this job is that it still doesn't have it's "identity". PLD is a holy knight that uses healing and shields the party while attacking with holy magics. WAR is a berserk tank that rushes in like a raging bull with reckless abandon unable to stop or be stopped. GNB is a fast articulate tank that uses quick fluid movements and combines attacks with cartridge shells for that "trigger" feel from FFVIII. DRK... well I'd like to say that it embodies the classic DRK of other FF games but the WAR has more life steal and its more frequent. All I can say about DRK atm is that it has the least amount of cds, being heavily reliant on TBN, has only one combo rotation and still focuses on magic defensive cds which could bite it in the rear if there is a fight that deals mostly physical. DRK atm is just a dark magic tank.

I know they won't bring back DA but I hope they bring back that concept of being able to augment your weaponskills in the future.